Process and apparatus for waving human hair



Filed Oct. 17, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l oooo oopooo o opT oooooopooooo w. H. BLEUEL ET AL Aug. 6, 1935.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR WAVING HUMAN HAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed Oct. 17, 1933 F /4 as luvsgTon I Patented Aug. 6, 1935 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR WAVING HUMAN HAIR William H. Bleuel, Dormont Borough, Pa., and Samuel Steek, Stcubenville, Ohio Application October 17,

22 Claims.

anointed with 'a suitable softening lotion and wound tightly and in helical form about mandrels, and the mandrels with the strands wound thereon are inclosed in tubular containers into which steam is admitted.

According to an accepted theory, hair which is of oval cross sectional shape naturally is wavy or curly while round hair is straight. Therefore to apply a permanent wave" to round hair it must be softened and given an oval cross sectional shape. The purpose is to drive the softening lotion into the interior of the hair by means of the steam and then the snug winding of the hair on the mandrel causes the softened hair to flatten and thus assume and, for an extended period maintain the oval shape.

In the present practice the metal tubular containers inclosing the mandrels and the strands of hair wound thereon, and into which the steam is admitted, are supported in part by being suspended from above and in part by being tightly a clasped about the strands adjacent the roots and scalp. The result is discomfort and fatigue and frequently pain for the patient due to the weight and drag of these containers.

Therefore one of the objects which we have in view is the support of the steaming containers in such manner that the hair-roots and scalp of the patient are entirely relieved from any weight or drag.

Again, in the present practice the steam is admitted to the containers at or adjacent the upper or outer ends of the latter or at a point substantially above the lowermost portions of said containers, and thus the outer and older portions of the hair are subjected to the hotter steam while the cooler steam and partially condensed vapor comes into contactwith the newer portions of the hair adjacent the roots. The newer portions of the hair containing more of the natural oils, of course, should be subjected to the higher temperatures of the steam. Again, the

older portions of the hair frequently retain a s more or less oval shape from previous waves and therefore do not require steaming to such high temperature. Therefore another object which we have in view is the application of the highly heated steam first to the newer portions of the hair.

Again it is highly important that the accumulation of the water of condensation at the bottom of the containers adjacent the roots of the 1933, Serial No. 693,936

hair should be avoided. Such accumulations tend to render the hair soggy and the water is likely to leak out through the lower end of the container and wet and sometimes scald the scalp. In some cases it has been proposed to apply partial vacuum or suction to the outer ends of the containers in an attempt to withdraw the steam before it has an opportunity to condense, but as the pressure employed is relatively low, the suction is likely to withdraw the steam before its value is fully utilized and to leave such condensation which may occur to accumulate in the bottom of the container.

Therefore another object which we have in view is the provision of meansfor withdrawing the condensation from the containers as it occurs without withdrawing useful steam and without danger of any of the water leaking through to the roots of the hair and the scalp.

Various characters of steaming containers are employed for steaming the wound strands of hair, provision being made for introducing the mandrel and the strand wound thereon into the opened container, and the container is then closed and rendered steam-tight as far as possible. Containers parted longitudinally have been employed but it is diflicult to render the same steam-tight when closed. Another known type of container is of composite character, an inner tube telescoped within an outer tube and both tubes being provided with longitudinal apertures which are brought into registry to permit the insertion of the mandrel with the hair wound thereon, and the inner tube is then rotated to bring the apertures out of registry and close the container. Such composite tubes are expensive to manufacture and are not steam-tight at their lower ends.

Therefore another object which we have in view is the provision of a new and improved type of steaming container into which the mandrel wound with hair may be readily and quickly introduced and from which it may as readily and quickly be withdrawn, and which will be steamtight at its end against the scalp of the patient.

Other objects will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings wherein we have Fig. 3 is a broken view partially in elevation and partially in section illustrating the support of the steaming containers from the steam manifold.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the steam manifold and one of the fittings mounted thereon. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 in Fig. 4, the fitting being turned into its operative position to admit steam from the manifold to the steaming container connected to the fitting.

Fig. 6 is a similar view but showing the fitting turned into its closed position.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the outer shell of one of the steaming containers.

Fig. 8 is a like view looking from the left in' Fig. 7.

Figs. 9 and 10 are elevations taken at right angles to each other of the inner shell of a steaming container.

Fig. 11 is a perspective of the clamping nut used to lock one of the container-supporting tubes in its fitting.

Fig. 12 is a perspective of one of the felt mats through which the strand of hair is first inserted and which is pressed down on the scalp.

Fig. 13 .is a perspective of the rubber gasket which fits down on the mat and which is provided with a tubular neck through which the strand of hair extends.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section showing a. modified form of support for the steaming containers.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 12, inclusive, I represents a steam generator of any convenient character from the lid or upper portion of which extends a forwardly inclined neck 2 on the outer end of which is mounted so as to be supported thereby the steam manifold 3. The neck is provided with a suitable shut-01f and regulating valve 4.

The manifold 3 is designed to extend around the back and sides of the patient whose hair is to be waved and therefore is substantially of yoke shape, its outer ends being closed as by the caps 5 and the steam being admitted to the manifold at its rear center from the neck 2.

As illustrated in the drawings, the manifold is inclined forwardly and upwardly so any water, as from the condensation of the steam, will drain rearwardly and will flow into a well or depression 6 at the union of the neck 2 and the manifold 3. The bottom of the well is provided with a drain I which leads to a tank 8. If desired the drain I may be connected to the water supply of the generator I.

The manifold may be made conveniently of tubular pipe and is provided along its upper surface with a series of uniformly spaced ports 9. I represents a split collar which is tightened about the manifold as by means of bolt I I and is provided with a radially extending tubular neck I2. One of these collars is mounted on the manifold in proper location to inclose each of the ports 9. It is evident that when the collar is turned so that its neck registers with the corresponding port, the latter is open while the port may be closed by turning the collar until its neck passes out of registry with the port. The manifold is provided with a radial pin I3 working in a circumferentially disposed slot I4 in the collar, thus limiting the movement of the collar relatively to the manifold, as illustrated in Figs. and 6.

The outer ends of the necks I2 are split longitudinally as at I5 and exteriorly threaded to receive a knurled clamping nut I6.

I! represents one of the supporting tubes by which the steaming containers are supported and connected to the manifold 3 for their supply of steam.

These tubes H are of sufllcient strength to properly support the steaming containers, and have their lower ends inserted into the corresponding necks I2 to the proper degree to position the individual steaming containers at the desired elevations. By tightening the nut I6 on the outer end of the neck I2 the corresponding tube I1 is fixed at its proper elevation.

I8 represents the outer shell or tube of one of the steaming containers, which shell is fixed on and preferably formed integrally with the upper end of the supporting tube II. The lower front of the shell I8 is provided with a longithereon, is inserted, the free end of the mandrel protruding through the outer end of the shell I8 which is open.

Before the strand of hair is wound about the mandrel the strand is first inserted through the central opening in the perforated felt mat 22 which is pushed down on the strand until the mat rests on the scalp. The rubber gasket 23 which is provided with. a tubular neck 26 is then threaded over the strand and pushed down on the mat and the strand drawn up and the strand is then pulled snugly through the neck 24. When the mandrel is inserted in the shell I8 the rubber neck extends into the shell at the lower end of the slot I9.

25 represents the inner shell of the steaming container being a tubular member open at its lower end and closed at its upper end except for the relatively small vent hole 26. The inner shell 25 is of proper diameter to fit the interior of the outer shell I8, and the latter is provided with an angular or curved slot 21 extending from its upper end and the inner shell is provided with a laterally extending pin 28 arranged to engage said slot, so that by first inserting the inner shell into the outer shell and then rotating it, it will be forced down in the outer shell and locked into position with the rubber neck 2% compressed tfghtly between the lower edge of the slot I9 and the lower edge of the inner shell 25, thus forming a steam and water-tight joint and closure which will prevent the escape of steam and moisture through the slot l9. To prevent the lower end of the inner shell from cutting or fraying the neck 24, we provide said shell with an inturned annular flange 25 and round the edges.

The outer end of the shell 25 is provided with wing flanges 29 to facilitate its rotation. It is obvious that a reverse rotation of the inner shell will permit its removal from the outer shell and the withdrawal of the mandrel and its burden after the steaming operation is completed.

As is seen in Fig. 3 the bottom of the outer shell I8 and the supporting tube H are so inclined that any water or condensation will readily drain out of the steaming container and down the tube I'l into the manifold when it will drain into the tank 8. Usually about thirty-six steaming containers are employed, thirteen along each side of the manifold and ten along the rear.

The tubes IT, for the support of the steaming containers for diiferent portions of the scalp,

of course differ in length and angularity so that the steaming containers may be properly positioned over the scalp area. Thus in Fig. 3 we have shown a second steaming container indicated at l8 higher up on the head indicated at 30 than the container just described, and supported by a longer and more sharply bent tube II from the manifold.

It is obvious that in the case of this, the preferred form of our apparatus, the steaming containers are supported entirely from the steam manifold, so that no weight or drag is imposed on the scalp.

The hair at the back of the human head is usually more oily than the remainder of the hair. In the case of our invention the connecting tubes H at the rear are shorter and are supplied by steam just passing from the generator, and thus we obtain the increased heating effect for the back hair which its nature requires.

Again any water which may condense in a steam container will automatically drain from the bottom thereof and float back through the supporting tube into the manifold when it in turn is drained by gravity into the tank 8. Thus our containers are kept well drained and no water or moisture will leak out onto the scalp. The pressure employed is relatively low and thus there is no material resistance to the draining away of the water.

When it is desired to use but some of the steaming containers the tubes I! not in use are swung outwardly so that the corresponding manifold ports are closed and the escape of steam up said tubes is prevented.

Again, our improved form of steaming con-, tainer is inexpensive and is easily and quickly opened and closed.

Referring now to Fig. 14, we show a modified form of apparatus wherein for the stiff supporting tubes i! of the first described embodiment we substitute flexible tubes 3| and support the steaming containers by suspending them from above, as by spring-links 32 engaging a perforation in one of the wing-flanges 29 of the inner shell 25 and hooked at its upper end over a supporting yoke 33.

In this modification the steaming tubes are likewise arranged to be self-draining,

Another marked advantage of admitting the steam to the steaming container adjacent the roots of a strand of hair arises from the fact that a strand of hair is thicker, containing a greater number of hairs and also the thicker diameters oi" the hair adjacent the roots, and therefore the higher steam temperature is required.

The vent hole 26 should be of sufficient capacity to cause more or less of a circulation of steam outwardly along the strand. We found that in the case of a steam container having an eifective internal diameter of three-fourths of an inch the vent hole may be satisfactorily made of about one-eighth of an inch diameter.

We claim 1. In apparatus for waving human hair, the combination of a steam manifold, a plurality of tubes supported by said manifold, and a plurality of steaming containers supported by saidtubes and connected through the same with the manifold, said containers and said tubes being so disposed that condensed moisture will drain back into the manifold.

2.. In apparatus for waving human hair, the combination of a. steam manifold,--a plurality of tubes supported by said manifold, and a plurality of steaming containers supported by said tubes and connected through the same with the manifold, said containers and said tubes being so disposed that condensed moisture will drain back into the manifold and said manifold being so disposed that water will drain therefrom.

3. In apparatus for waving human hair, the

, combination of a steam manifold arranged to partially surround the patient, a plurality of tubes supported by and extending upwardly from the manifold and a plurality of steaming containers individually mounted on said tubes and arranged to be disposed adjacent to the scalp, the lower ends of said containers being connected to the manifold through said tubes.

4. In apparatus for waving human hair, the combination of a steam manifold arranged to partially surround the patient, a plurality of tubes supported by and extending upwardly from the manifold, and a plurality-of steaming containers individually mounted on said tubes and arranged to be disposed adjacent to the scalp, the lower ends of said containers being connected to the manifold through said tubes, said tubes and containers being arranged to cause the drainage of condensed moisture into the manifold.

5. In apparatus for waving human hair, the combination of a steam manifoldarranged to partially surround the patient, a plurality of tubes supported by and extending upwardly from the manifold, and a plurality of steaming containers individually mounted on said tubes and arranged to be disposed adjacent to the scalp, the lower ends of said containers being connected to the manifold through said tubes, said tubes and containers being arranged to cause the drainage of condensed moisture into the manifold and said manifold being so disposed that the water will drain out of the same.

6. In apparatus for waving human hair, the combination of a steam manifold provided with a port, a collar movably mounted on said manifold and provided with a tubular neck, said collar being so arranged that when the collar is in one position it closes said port and when in another position said port is brought into communication with said neck, and a steaming container having tubular connection with said neck whereby steam is admitted to said container when said neck and said collar are in registry,

7. In apparatus for waving human hair, the combination of a steam manifold provided with a port, a collar movably mounted on said manifold and provided with a tubular neck, said collar being so arranged that when the collar is in one position it closes said'port and when in another position said port is brought into communication with said neck, a steaming container having tubular connection with said neck whereby steam is admitted to said container when said neck and said collar are in registry, and means for limiting the movement of said collar.

8. In apparatus for waving human hair, the combination of a steam manifold provided with a port, a collar rotatably mounted on said manifold and provided with a tubular neck, said collar being so. disposed on said manifold that when in one position it closes said port while in another position said neck registers with said port, and a. steaming container having tubular connection with said neck whereby steam is admitted to said container when the port and neck .are in registry.

9. In apparatus for waving human hair, the

combination of a steam manifold provided with a port, a collar rotatably mounted on said manifold and provided with a tubular neck, said collar being so disposed on said manifold that when in one position it closes said port while in another position said neck registers with said port, a steaming container having tubular connection with said neck whereby steam is admitted to said container when the port and neck are in registry, and means for limiting the rotary movement of the collar.

10. In apparatus for waving human hair, the combination of asteam manifold, a tubular neck extending from said manifold, a supporting tube having its lower end inserted downwardly into said neck, and a steaming container mounted on the upper portion of said tube.

11. In apparatus for waving human hair, the combination of a steam manifold, a tubular neck extending from said manifold, a supporting tube having its lower end inserted downwardly into said neck, a steaming container mounted on the upper portion of said tube, and means for fixing said tube in position with varying degrees of insertion in said neck.

12. In apparatus for waving human hair, a steaming container comprising an outer shell having an opening in its side wall for the insertion of a mandrel with a strand of hair wound thereon, and an inner shell adapted to be inserted in the outer shell and having a pin and slot connection therewith whereby the inner shell may be forced down into the outer shell to seal the bottom of the outer shell..

13. In apparatus for waving human hair, a steaming container comprising an outer shell having an opening in its side wall for the insertion of a mandrel with a strand of hair wound thereon, an inner shell adapted to be inserted in the outer shell and having a pin and slot connection therewith whereby the inner shell may be forced down into the outer shell to seal the bottom of the outer shell, and means for admitting steam to the lower end of the outer shell.

14. In apparatus for waving human hair, a steaming container comprising an outer shell having an opening in its side wall for the insertion of a mandrel with a strand of hair wound thereon, an inner shell adapted to be inserted in the outer shell and having a pin and slot connection therewith whereby the inner shell may be forced down into the outer shell to seal the bottom of the outer shell, means for admitting steam to the lower end of the outer shell, and a vent in the outer end of the inner shell.

15. In apparatus for waving human hair, the

combination with a container in which the strand of hair is to be steamed, of means for admitting the steam to the container at the lower and hairroot end of the latter.

16. In apparatus for waving human hair, the combination with a container in which the strand of hair is to be steamed, of means for admitting the steam to the container and draining off the condensed moisture from the container from the lower and hair-root end of the latter.

17. In apparatus for waving human hair, the combination of a container in which the strand of hair is to be steamed, and a single tube connected to said container and employed both for the admission of steam to the latter and for the drainage of condensed moisture therefrom.

18. In apparatus for waving human hair, the combination of a container in which the strand of hair is to be steamed, and a single tube connected to said container and employed both for the admission of steam to the latter and for the drainage of condensed moisture therefrom, said tube connecting the container at the hair-root end thereof.

19. In apparatus for waving human hair, the combination of a container in which the strand of hair is to be steamed, and a single tube connected to said container and employed both for the admission of steam to the latter and for the drainage of condensed moisture therefrom, said tube connecting the container at the hair-root end thereof, and the container being so disposed that the condensed moisture will drain out of the container through said tube.

20. The process of waving hair on the human head which comprises winding up a strand of the hair, inclosing the same and admitting steam to the inclosed strands at a point closely adjacent the root end of the strand.

21. The process of waving hair on the human head which comprises winding up a strand of the hair, inclosing the same and admitting steam to the inclosed strand at a point closely adjacent the root end of the strand and withdrawing the condensates at substantially the root end of the inclosed strand to avoid the accumulation of condensed moisture.

22. The process of waving hair on the human head which comprises winding up a strand of the hair, inclosing the same and admitting steam to the inclosed strand at a point closely adjacent the root end of the strand, and venting the steam adjacent the upper portion of the wound strand.

WILLIAM H. BLEUEL. SAMUEL S'I'EEK. 

